Fludarabine, Rituximab, and Alemtuzumab in Treating Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This phase II trial is studying how well giving fludarabine together with rituximab followed
by alemtuzumab works in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Monoclonal
antibodies, such as rituximab and alemtuzumab, can block cancer growth in different ways.
Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others can find cancer cells and
help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such
as fludarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing
the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving fludarabine together with rituximab
followed by alemtuzumab may kill more cancer cells.